Conceived for ramp launching and modest coastal wandering, the Fox packs Nick Hake’s signature nearly plumb stem and classic sheer into a small cruiser. It weighs 1,300 pounds, carries 450 pounds of lead ballast, and has an 8-foot beam.
Design and Construction
The Fox is a solid-fiberglass monohull with wood trim. It has a fixed, shoal-draft wing keel and a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller. Its nearly plumb stem and slightly angled transom give it a compact, purposeful profile.
Hake developed the design from the beamy hull he first created in 1979 for the Slipper Deckhouse 17, later refining it with fancier oval ports and other gear. Period reviews considered the Fox relatively good-looking, noting its springy sheer, pronounced tumblehome, molded bulwarks, and neat stainless fittings.
With a ballast ratio of 34.6 percent and a displacement-to-length figure of 177.9, the Fox sits firmly in the light, trailerable category rather than among heavier cruisers.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The Fox carries either a fractional sloop rig or an optional unstayed catboat rig with a tall mast. For a time, buyers could choose between the two. The cat rig requires 33 feet of bridge clearance, 8 feet more than the sloop.
The rotating, freestanding carbon-fiber mast stands 28 feet 6 inches tall and weighs just 33 pounds. The mast is secured by an internal sliding aluminum tube that couples the upper mast to a deck bearing. An optional bowsprit extends the sailplan.
The builder claimed the boat could be rigged at a ramp in less than five minutes, which suited its role as a trailer sailer. On the water, however, test sailors found that the shallow fixed keel limited its ability to pinch upwind against rivals in light breeze.
Accommodations
The Fox sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, while two straight settee berths run through the main cabin. The head is centered aft in the bow cabin, beneath the V-berth.
The galley is split across the boat just aft of the bow cabin, with a stove to port and a sink to starboard. Reviewers found the interior relatively spacious for its modest overall length, with a space index higher than those of its competitors. The self-bailing cockpit is deep and comfortable for two.
Trailering and Ownership
The Fox uses outboard power, which helps keep its systems simple. Its 1.58-foot draft suits ramp retrieval, while the light carbon rig and claimed setup time of less than five minutes reflect a boat intended for casual, repeated launch-and-go use rather than liveaboard cruising.
The Verdict
The Seaward Fox is a thoughtfully evolved trailer sailer that trades upwind bite for a ramp-friendly shoal draft and a surprisingly roomy cabin for its length. Its freestanding carbon rig and quick setup suit the casual cruiser, while the beamy Hake hull provides more interior space than the boat’s size might suggest.
Pros
- Sleeps four in a 19-foot 9-inch hull, with the highest space index among its competitors
- Freestanding carbon-fiber mast weighs only 33 pounds and can be rigged quickly
- Shoal wing keel and 1.58-foot draft simplify trailering and ramp launching
Cons
- Shallow fixed keel limits pointing ability, particularly in light air
- Cat rig’s 33-foot bridge clearance restricts access along some fixed-clearance routes
- Outboard power and small size limit extended cruising range
